For the general public, the aesthetics of a site often boils down to saying "Those colours are nice, the photos are cool! But there's more to the aesthetics of a site than these simple remarks!
Are you a bit of an artist? Are you passionate about everything to do with the web? Are you a digital enthusiast? Then the job of web designer is for you!
This web job combines artistic talent, particularly visual talent, with digital technical skills.
With the digital revolution underway, web designers have a very bright future ahead of them, provided they keep their finger on the pulse and undergo ongoing training.
The role of the web designer
The role of the web designer is first and foremost to create harmony, because web design is more than just graphic design. It is a genuine communication tool that facilitates the user experience through user-friendly ergonomics, and conveys the marketing message clearly and in the most relevant way. It adds real value to information by making the image more professional.
Web design therefore refers to the conception of the web interface: the architecture and organisation of the pages, the tree structure and site navigation. It’s an essential stage in web design, but also a tricky one, because it involves respecting the customer’s requirements, marketing and communication imperatives, and of course those of the target audience.
Skills and qualities
Unknown just ten years ago, web designers are now an integral part of the IT world.
A web designer is a kind of graphic designer/coder who is involved in various aspects (ergonomics, referencing, editing techniques), and who knows and understands the constraints of the web as well as having the soul of an artist.
Perfect command of technological tools (graphics software: Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.), a keen mind, rigour and a sense of organisation – these are the qualities that are essential for this job.
Web designers need to understand what’s at stake on the Internet, and must always keep abreast of the latest developments and innovations. They are the technology experts par excellence, and are always at the cutting edge!
Career and development opportunities
This is a job that’s on the up, but recruiters are demanding in terms of quality.
Web designers can work for a website design studio, a company’s communications department or be self-employed, a status where talent and reputation are key to winning contracts.
A Web designer’s starting salary is around €1,800 gross per month, rising to €2,900 with experience.
A web designer can progress from junior web designer to senior web designer, publishing manager or project manager, and even become artistic director or creative director at the end of their career.
The corporate multimedia designer
The term web design hides a whole range of skills that you need to be a web designer, in other words, a digital multimedia designer.
